The red light on your answering machine flashed, and you pressed the green button.
“Hi baby, it’s Lou! I miss you like crazy. Like, I’m going mad over here. Call me as soon as you get this, I’m taking you out tonight, ok? Love you Payton!” You hear the beep, signaling the end of the message as you pick up your phone and dial Louis’ number.
“Ello?” You hear his familiar voice and a smile spreads across your face.
“Hi Lou, it’s Payton. I got your message.”
“Oh good love! I really am going mad, I miss you so much. I know I saw you yesterday and all, but I just can’t be without you. Wanna get dinner tonight?”
“I’d love too babe, but I’m babysitting tonight, don’t you remember?”
“You hate babysitting. Let’s ditch?”
“Louis I can’t!” You insist, which takes all your will power. You would kill to take the night off with Louis, but you were saving up for school. It wasn’t an option.
“Well, alright then. I’ll come with you. I like kids, but mostly I like you, so…” His voice trails off, and then he snaps back out of it.
“I’ll give you a ride there sweets, what time should I pick you up, and where are we going” He asks sweetly
“The Marshalls, at 7.” You say your good-byes, and hang up your phone. As you start to get ready, you smile. Tonight might not be so bad after all.
You’ve only been here for about a half hour, and you’re already starting to lose it.
“Jeremy, stop hitting your brother! Mitchell, please settle down. No food on the carpet!” You sigh and collapse on the couch. You liked kids, but sometimes they were so hard to manage. Especially the Marshalls. Louis squeezed your shoulder.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself babe,” He smiled, standing up.
“Boys!” Louis shouted over the noise. They all looked up at him eagerly.
“Do you want to see a real live music video?” He picked up his guitar, and started playing the familiar chords of the song you wrote together. He starts singing, and the boys all sit down and watch, mesmerized. You understood completely. You watched the way his chest rose and fell as he sang, mesmerized too. He nodded at you to join in, and you harmonized as the kids sat quietly and listened. You had never seen these kids like this before.
As the song finished, Louis looks over at the boys and smiles, that smile that no one can argue with.
“Alright boys, hop into bed, ok?” He says, picking up the youngest and swinging him around in a circle. You lean in the doorframe as he tucks them in one by one, and whispers in their ears. He was so good with kids, and it made your heart melt. You’re lost, daydreaming about maybe raising your own children with Louis one day, and you don’t see him coming until he sweeps his arm around your waist and pulls you out into the living room.
“You’re incredible, you know that, Louis?” He laughs, and spins you around, pinning you to the wall.
“You’re incredible.” He whispers against your lips, teasing you.
“Funny, I remember being the one collapsed in frustration as you sang the little devils to sleep as if they were actually adorable” He smirks, and pulls back a bit.
“They’re good kids, just a bit tough sometimes.” He says, shrugging.
“There you go again. Incredible.” He hovers over you, his lips just barely above yours.
“Kiss me, Louis. You’re making me crazy.”
“Hmmm?” He jokes, as he steps closer, pressing his body against yours, firm against the grey wall.
“You are such a tease.” You whisper, as he cups your chin and moves his lips against yours. With his hands on your hips, Louis spins you around and lifts you up, sliding down the wall with you in his lap. Without taking his lips off yours, he reaches up and slips your hair elastic out, running his fingers through your hair.
“Can you read me a story?”
Louis pulls away shocked, and sees Jeremy standing there in his buzz light year pajamas, a shocked look on his face.
“Erm…sure” Louis says, as he hurriedly stands up and brushes himself off. You try to hold in your laughter as he walks hand in hand with Jeremy to the bookshelf. Louis winks at you on the way back, and you know it won’t take long for the story to be over.
